Venice, Italy
19th century
Brass
Height 3 in (7.6 cm), not counting museum mount; Length 4 1/4 in (10.8 cm)
Provenance: Christian Rub, Santa Barbara, friend of Taos artist Joseph Henry Sharp, 1930s; Martha Pillard, Honolulu, docent of Academy of Arts, obtained from her private collection in 1999
The winged Lion of St Mark is the ancient symbol of Venice and the Evangelist Mark, one of the most enduring emblems in European civic and religious iconography, reproduced in bronze and brass across centuries of Venetian and Italian decorative production. This 19th century brass example captures the lion in its characteristic pose with open wings, a form that traces directly to the medieval bronze lion on the Piazzetta in Venice. The crisp casting and well-developed patina are consistent with quality Italian brass work of the period.
The provenance carries particular interest, tracing from Christian Rub of Santa Barbara, a friend of Taos artist Joseph Henry Sharp in the 1930s, to Martha Pillard of Honolulu, docent of the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Both names connect this small object to the networks of American artists and collectors engaged with European and world material culture in the early and mid twentieth century.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Venice, Italy
19th century
Brass
Height 3 in (7.6 cm), not counting museum mount; Length 4 1/4 in (10.8 cm)
Provenance: Christian Rub, Santa Barbara, friend of Taos artist Joseph Henry Sharp, 1930s; Martha Pillard, Honolulu, docent of Academy of Arts, obtained from her private collection in 1999
The winged Lion of St Mark is the ancient symbol of Venice and the Evangelist Mark, one of the most enduring emblems in European civic and religious iconography, reproduced in bronze and brass across centuries of Venetian and Italian decorative production. This 19th century brass example captures the lion in its characteristic pose with open wings, a form that traces directly to the medieval bronze lion on the Piazzetta in Venice. The crisp casting and well-developed patina are consistent with quality Italian brass work of the period.
The provenance carries particular interest, tracing from Christian Rub of Santa Barbara, a friend of Taos artist Joseph Henry Sharp in the 1930s, to Martha Pillard of Honolulu, docent of the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Both names connect this small object to the networks of American artists and collectors engaged with European and world material culture in the early and mid twentieth century.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
